Chair



Aug 31, 1965 v. H. SEYMER 3,203,734

Inventor VlvmN H Scvmsg V. H. SEYMER Aug. 31, 1965 CHAIR 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 /Blvuaed ww Attorney V. H. SEYMER Aug. 31, 1965 CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 Inventor VMM #lwffi Attorney V. H. SEYMER Aug. 31, 1965 CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 Spf@ V. H. SEYMER Aug. 31, 1965 CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Deo. 18, 1963 nvenlor 04N JFyAfFx y Maui/lngs United States Patent O 3,203,734 CHAIR Vivian Home Seymer, Copse Hill, Wimbledon, England Filed Dec. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 331,425 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 15, 1963, 1,715/ 63 13 Claims. (Cl. 297-458) This invention relates to chairs.

It is particularly concerned with such chairs adapted for outside use, its aim being to ensure improved comfort with economy of parts.

The invention consists in a chair having a seat and a back each or either of which is formed of a series of substantially parallel separate slats which, adjacent their ends, tit into slots formed in cross-members or cradles made of resilient material.

Thus not only is each slat independently and resiliently mounted so that each series can more easily conform to the body of the sitter, but each slat can twist slightly about its longitudinal axis and thus ensure still closer conformation of its contact surface to the body of the sitter.

The slats in cross-section are preferably of substantially T-form such that the broad part of the T forms the contact surface. Additional side flanges are preferably formed on each slat, and the slots in the resilient cross-members or cradles have corresponding cross-slots into which the side liauges lit.

The slats are preferably of moulded synthetic material: and the resilient cross-members are preferably made of rubber or its equivalent, reinforced by an internal steel or like strap.

The scope of the invention is deiined by the appended claims; and how it can be performed is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of one form of chair according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan of the same; a

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation on the lines lII-III of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan and FIGURE 5 a front elevation of a slotted cross-member or cradle;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are details showing the attachment of such cross-members to the main frame;

FIGURE 8 is an elevation and FIGURE 9 a plan of the slotted cross-member or cradle for the front of the seat; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation and FIGURE 11 a section -on line XI-XI of `one of the slats shaped `and adapted to tit in the slots of the cross-members or cradles.

The main frame members of the chair are of orthodox and preferably tubular construct-ion, and consist of a seat back A having a top cross-bar (FIGURE l) so that it is of inverted U-form; a seat hoop B having a front crossbar C land arms D; and a pair of leg members E shaped to U-form (FIGURE 3) whose upper ends lit at the rear into bell-mouthed sockets in the down-turned ends of the tubes of the seat back A, `and at the front into similar bellmouthed sockets in the down-turned ends of the .tubes of the seat hoop B. Arm rests F are tit-ted at the tops of the seat 'hoop B.

In completing the chair according to this invention a series of T or like cross-section slats 10 (FIGURES 10 and 11) 21 are separately fitted in slots in four reinforced rubber cross-members 11, 12, 13, 14, each of which as shown in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5, has `a flexible strap 15 of steel -or like highatensile material. The ends of each strap are bent cand apertured as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 so that they can be attached as shown in FIGURES 6 3,233,734 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 ICC and 7 4to the side frame members A (for the back seat) and E (for the seat) One form of such attachment is shown in det-ail in' FIGURES 6 and 7. The tube A, for example, is slightly attened; and the flattened part is bored to hold a screw-Y bolt 16 which has :a nut 17 Vand which is also passed through the forked ends of a bracket -18 to which one bent end of the strap 15 is fixed by means of lanother screw-- bolt 19. Each end of each of the straps 11 to 14 is xed in `this Way to the main-frame tubular members A and E. at the flattened parts thereof shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

The front cross-member 14 for the seat, shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9, is fixed yat its ends in this Way to the attened parts (see FIGURE' 2) adjacent the front ends -of the tubular seat hoop B. In addition, the cross-member 14 is attac-hed at the centre to the front cross-bar C of the seat hoop B by means of a bracket 21 (see FIGURES 3, 8 and 9).

As seen in FIGURES' 1, 2 and 3, cross-member 11 is' stretched between the uprights of the tubular seat back A. adjacent 4their upper ends. Another 12 is similarly stretched between those uprights adjacent their lower ends in the region of the spine of the sitter. These two resilient cross-members .11, 12 thus locate and support the separate slats 10 forming the cha-ir back.

'Ilhe similar cross-members 13,14 are stretched between the horizontal parts of the seat hoop B; one towards the rear of the seat and the other towards the front ofthe seat .as best seen in FIGURE 2.

The slats 10y of the chair back seen in detail in FIGURE- l0 are in prolile slightly concave adjacent the top end, and. slightly convex adjacent the bottom end. Thev slats 21 (FIGURES 1, 2, 3) Iof the chair seat (which are ot" simi-lar construction and are not therefore shown in detail) are similarly concave .adjacent the rear and convex adjacent the front, as best seen in FIGURE 3. These shapes facilitate anatomical conforma-tion in .that the convexity of the .back slats 10 supports the small of the back of the sitter; and the convexity of the seat slats 21 supports the front ends of the thighs.

Further anatomical conformation for different postures is ensured by the slotted cross-members 11 t-o 14 in that, being flexible .as Well as resilient, yand fixed only at their extremities, the shape of the lines .they assume under the load of the sitter will vary according to the load distribution; and the position of the slats Will thus vary slightly `accord-ing to the loading, and respond to the disposition and movements of the sitter whether he be forward or upright, or leaning to the left or to the right.

In .addition to being of llanged T-cross-section as above indicated .and as shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 so as Ito tit into the cross-slots of the resilient cross-members 11 to 14, the slats 10, 21 have pairs of projections 22 to form cross-grooves 23 so as to lit to the resilient crossmembers 11 to 14 and effect longitudinal location thereon. Two such cross-grooves 23 can be formed in each slat for assembly. Each vslat 10 additionally h-as side flanges 24 (FIGURES 10 and 11) which fit into the cross-slots of T-form in the `cross-members (see for example FIG- URES 8 and 9). In .assembly the slats 10 are pushed into the cross-slots of the resilient cross-members and fare held therein by the side flanges 24.

The number, shape and :size ofthe slats, cross-members and slots can be varied according to practical requirements.

I claim:

1. A chair comprising a frame forming a seat member and a back member, a pair of resilient rubber-like cross-members having slots and being attached at their ends respectively to the sides of one of said members and being of such inherent flexibility as to be conformable in disposition to the applied load, and a plurality of rigid substantially parallel slats which adjacent their ends t into the slots of said resilient cross-members, so as to be conformable both in position and orientation to the applied load.

2. A chair comprising a frame forming a seat member and a back member, a pair of resilient cross-members having T-shaped slots and being attached at their ends respectively to the sides of one of said members so as to be conformable in disposition to the applied load, and a plurality of rigid substantially parallel slats having side anges and which adjacent their ends fit with their side flanges into said T-shaped slots of said resilient cross-members, so that each slat can conform in position and in orientation to the applied load.

3. A chair comprising a frame forming a seat member and a back member, a pair of reinforced resilient rubberlike cross-members having slots and being attached at their ends respectively to the sides of one of said members and being of such inherent flexibility as to be conformable in disposition to the applied load, and a plurality of rigid anatomically shaped substantially parallel slats which adjacent their ends each fit into their respective slots of said resilient cross-members so as to conform in orientation to the applied load.

4. A chair comprising a frame forming a seat member and a back member, a pair of reinforced resilient crossmembers having T-shaped slots and being attached at their ends respectively to the sides of one of said members so as to be conformable in disposition to the applied load, and a plurality of rigid, anatomically shaped substantially parallel slats having side flanges and which adjacent their ends t with their side flanges into said T-shaped slots of said resilient cross-members, so as to be conformable both in position `and orientation to the applied load.

5. A chair according to claim 1 in which each slat has a pair of projections forming a cross-groove of a size to t to one of said resilient and flexible cross-members and 'thereby locate said slat longitudinally there-on.

6. A chair according to claim 2 in which each slat has CFI l a pair of projections forming a cross-groove of a size to fit to one of said cross-members and thereby locate said slat longitudinally thereon.

7. A chair according to claim 3 in which each Slat has a pair of projections forming a cross-groove of a size to fit to one of said resilient and flexible cross-members and thereby locate said slat longitudinally theron.

8. A chair according to claim 1 in which said crossmembers are formed of resilient material and have a flexible reinforcement strap with attachment means at the ends thereof for connection to the chair frame.

9. A chair according to claim 2 in which said crossmembers are formed of resilient material and have a flexible reinforcement strap with attachment means at the ends thereof for connection to the chair frame.

10. A chair according to claim 3 in which said crossmembers are formed of resilient material and have a exible reinforcement strap with attachment means at the ends thereof for connection to the chair frame.

11. A chair according to claim 1 having a front crossmember forming part of the frame and in which the front resilient cross-member has a centre bracket for attachment to said frame front cross-member.

12. A chair according to claim 2 having a front crossmember forming part of the frame yand in which the front resilient cross-member has a centre bracket for attachment to said frame front cross-member.

13. A chair according to claim 3 having a front crossmember forming part of the frame and in which the front resilient cross-member has a centre bracket for attachment to said frame front cross-member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,054,643 9/ 62 Militano 297-440 3,131,970 5/ 64 McGregor 297-457 3,135,553 6/64 Lockshin 297-452 FRANK B. SHERRY, Prz'mmy Examiner. 

1. A CHAIR COMPRISING A FRAME FORMING A SEAT MEMBER AND A BACK MEMBER, A PAIR OF RESILIENT RUBBER-LIKE CROSS-MEMBERS HAVING SLOTS AND BEING ATTACHED AT THEIR ENDS RESPECTIVELY TO THE SIDES OF ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND BEING OF SUCH INHERENT FLEXIBILITY AS TO BE CONFORMABLE IN DISPOSTION TO THE APPLIED LOAD, AND A PLURALITY OF RIGID SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SLATS WHICH ADJAENT THEIR ENDS FIT INTO THE SLOTS OF SAID RESILIENT CROSS-MEMBERS, SO AS TO BE CONFORMABLE BOTH IN POSITION AND ORIENTATION TO THE APPLIED LOAD. 